I love this piece. To the reader, I am sure many are wondering why this print is backwards? Most probably think the photo image of this Minstrel Beer printers block lithograph was simply reversed before it was added to this story. However, that is not the case. This and thousands of others like this from the 1900 era were intentionally backwards on these lithographs as the image when printed on the final product would be no longer reversed…the printer blocks would print the image and the image was suddenly right side out instead of backwards. In fact, printers of modern day still have metal plates which are backwards with their printing before they become a newspaper we know today. The Klausmann printers ribbon was found in the archives by Coshocton, OH historians, however, this piece was a Chas Shonk piece from the renown Chicago, IL printer. Today the minstrel piece is known as a rolled metal sign, but the outside squared off edges is not known to the author in the full design as shown here, however, I have seen the piece as shown here hanging in a 1900 era saloon photograph. So hopefully one of these pieces will show up someday in its entirety.
The Klausmann Brewery was a pre-prohibition era brewery in the south city of St. Louis, MO. Located on S. Broadway, this brewery served their local market, mostly made up of folks with german heritage. The Minstrel brand was just one of their beers, as they were known for their lager beer too. Unfortunately like so many other breweries, the company did not reappear after prohibition ended, hence, it was simply another victim of the prohibition amendment. If you have any Klausmann brewing items, I am an interested buyer.